US3013376A - Method and means for building packages of roving - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 19, 1961 J. R. WHITEHURST 3,013,376

METHOD AND MEANS FOR BUILDING PACKAGES OF ROVING Filed Feb. 9, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR? Jot:- E. WHITE-BURST ATTORNEYS Dec. 19, 1961 J. RJWHITEHURST METHOD AND MEANS FOR BUILDING PACKAGES OF ROVING Filed Feb. 9, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 19, 1961 J. R. WHITEHURST 3,013,376

METHOD AND MEANS FOR BUILDING PACKAGES 0F ROVING Filed Feb. 9, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 52 INVENTOR.

Joe 12. WHITE-HURST F6 J hb ziwkw ATTORNEYS Dec. 19, 1961 J. R. WHITEHURST METHOD AND MEANS FOR BUILDING PACKAGES OF ROVING Filed Feb. 9, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 T INVENTOR.

15-10 Jet- 12. WHWE-HUEST Unite 3,til3,376 METHOD AND MEANS FUR BUILDING PACKAGES F RQVING Joe R. Vthltehurst, Bessemer City, N.., assignor to Ideal Machine Shops, Ina, Bessemer City, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Filed Feb. 9, 1960, Ser. No. 7,697 22 Claims. (Ci. 57--99) This invention relates to animproved method and means for building packages of roving on textile machines having flyers provided with presserfeet, such as roving frames, slub'oers, intermediates, and the like, and which will be referred to hereinafter as a roving frame for purposes of brevity.

For many years, the textile industry has been striving to increase the production capacity of textile machines in order to decrease the cost of processing textile fibers, strands and articles made therefrom while increasing the wages paid to the attendants of the various textile machines, and so that it would not be necessary to provide additional machines or space to accommodate such additional machines.

Great strides have been made in increasing the rate of production on many fiber processing machines, spining fnames, knitting machines, looms and other textile machines. However, the rate of production of roving frames has been somewhat of a bottle-neck in many textile manufacturing plants due to the fact that the amount of roving which could be included in each package produced on a roving frame has been limited because of the type of bobbin used and the shape of the package.

Various attempts have been made to increase the size of the packages by winding the roving onto bobbins having flanges on opposed ends thereof; i.e., onto spools. However, such a tempts have been unsuccessful because of the interfering relationship between the presserfeet and the flanges of the spools, with the result that it has been impossible heretofore, to properly control the lay of the roving as it was deposited upon the portions of the spool closely adjacent the flanges thereof. it has, therefore, been necessary, and is the established conventional practice, to wind roving onto bobbins without flanges and to provide a taper at each end of each package of roving produced. This taper has been necessary in order to prevent the roving from sloughing off the ends of the packages. It is apparent that the taper at each end of the prior art package has, in itself, limited the capacity of conventional bobbins and has also limited the maximum diameter of the resultant package.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide a novel method and means for producing spooltype packages of roving, utilizing presserfeet, wherein the lay of the roving adjacent the flanged ends of the spool is controlled in a uniform manner by the presserfeet.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a novel method and means for producing cylindrical packages of roving on a roving frame in which flanged spools serve as the carriers or supports for the packages, and wherein the strands of roving are directed to the spools by means of relatively rotating flyers with presserfeet thereon, the method including dwelling or delaying the traversing movement of the spools relative to the flyers as the flanges of the spools move closely adjacent the presserfeet at each end of the traversing strokes thereof.

This delaying of the traversing movement of the spools is of predetermined duration such as to permit a predetermined number of coils or convolutions of roving to be wound about the respective end portions of each spool, during the course of which each convolution or coil of roving guides the next succeeding coil of roving. This lee insures that the roving is uniformly laid or coiled at opposite ends of each spool and against the flanges thereof, and also insures that the mass of roving wound on each spool throughout the length thereof is of substantially uniform diameter.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide apparatus for carrying out the above method and which includes a delayed action clutch interposed between the conventional builder and the conventional lifter arms which raise and lower the bolster rail and the spools carried thereby. Thus, at the end of each traversing, stroke of the spools, the spools dwell for a predetermined interval during the initiation of reverse movement of. the builder, whereupon the clutch then transmits movement from the builder to the lifter arms and, hence, to the spools.

The extent of the dwell in the traverse of the spools must'be precisely controlled so that, upon cessation of each traversing stroke of the spools, a sufficient number of additional coils of roving are taken up by each spool to complete the formation of one layer and to start a succeeding layer, bridging the distance from the eye of each presserfoot to the adjacent flange and back to said eye.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating the rela tionship between a spool and the presserfoot of a flyer at the moment that the spool reaches the limit of its upward traversing movement;

FIGURES 2 and 3 are views similar to FIGURE 1 showing how the coils of roving are laid onto the package while the spool rests or dwells at the end of an upward stroke;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic diagram of the drive mechanism of a conventional roving frame embodying, in the left-hand portion thereof, the novel means 122 for delaying the traversing movement of the spools at the end of each stroke thereof;

FIGURE 5 is a rear elevation of a roving frame with parts broken away and other parts being omitted in order to illustrate many elements of the operating mechanism thereof;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view through the roving frame taken substantially along URE 6 and showing the novel delayed action clutch in detail;

FIGURE 8 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 88 in FIGURE 7 and illustrating, in particular, how the duration of the dwell in traversing movement of the spools may be accurately predetermined;

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 7, on a reduced scale, but showing most of the elements thereof in elevation;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged elevation of a combination spindle and spindle shaft support or step bearing shown in the lower central portion of FIGURE 6, with parts being shown in section, the supports for all the spindles being of substantially the same construction.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the illustration of FIGURE 4 is similar to illustrations provided in many catalogues and instruction booklets issued by the manufacturers of roving frames, and which are wellknown in most textile mills. Thus, the conventional elements illustrated in FIGURE 4 may be readily recognized by those familiar with the art.

The numeral indicates the main drive shaft of the roving frame which has a pulley 21 thereon driven by an endless belt 22. Drive shaft 20 has a gear 25 fixed thereon which is connected, by a diagrammatically illustrated gear train 26, to gears 27, only one of which is shown in FIGURE 4. Gears 27 are fixed on spindle shafts 3'0 (FIGURES 4 and 6). Each spindle shaft 30 drives a plurality of conventional spindles 31 on each of which is mounted a strand traversing means embodied in a flyer 32. Only one of the spindles 31 and flyers 32 are shown in FIGURE 4, although it is well known that a plurality of such spindles and flyers are provided on each roving frame, said spindles and flyers being arranged in the manner shown in FIGURE 6, for example.

Spindle shafts 30 impart rotation to each spindle 31 by means of bevel gears 33, 34. Roving or a similar strand of textile material R is fed to each flyer 32 from the usual drafting rolls D. As shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 6, each strand R passes through an opening 35 in the upper end of the respective flyer 32, then passes partially around said upper end of the flyer 32 and through one of its arms 36, which arm is hollow, as is usual. Each roving strand R then passes out of the lower end of the hollow arm 36 and around a conventional presserfinger 37 and then through the usual opening or eye 39 provided in the presserfoot or paddle 38 to be wound in the form of coils around an axially reciprocable flanged carrier or spool 41.

Each spool 41 comprises a barrel 41a and axially spaced, circular, upper and lower flanges 41b, 41c (FIG- URE 6). Flanges 41b, 41c represent respective planar strand supporting surfaces adjacent opposite ends of each spool. The flanges 41b, 41c may be secured to the conventional roving bobbins or special flanged spools may be provided.

Each spool or flanged carrier 41 is penetrated by the respective spindle 31 and positioned on a bolster or other support 42 having a gear 43 on its lower end which rests upon a bracket 44 (FIGURE 6) carried by a conventional bolster rail 45. Bolster rail 45 may also be termed as a spool carriage and is common to all the spindles and bolsters on the machine. Each gear 43 meshes with a bevel gear 46 fixed on a spool shaft 47 which is generally known as a bobbin shaft. There are two such spool shafts 47 shown in FIGURE 6, which are common to all the bolsters 42 in a respective row.

It will be noted that the spool shafts 47 are journaled in the brackets 44 upon which the bolster gears 43 are supported, and through which the respective spindles 31 loosely extend. Since it is important that all the spools 41 occupy the same position relative to the presserfeet 38 carried by the flyers 32, a special step hearing or spindle support 50 is provided for supporting the lower end of each spindle 31 and for also supporting the respective spindle shafts 30, as will be later described. The step bearings 50 are fixed to a spindle rail 51 carried by the frame 52 of the roving frame (FIGURE 6).

It is well known that the frame 52 of a roving frame includes a plurality of upright frame members or samsons, there being four such samsons shown in FIGURE 5 and indicated at 5356. The upper ends of the samsons 53-56 are interconnected by a roll stand support or beam 57. Each samson 53-56 has a vertical guide 52a thereon (FIGURE 6) on which a guide block 52b is guided. Guide block 52b has an arm 52c extending forwardly therefrom. The bolster rail 45 is secured to the arms 52c.

Referring again to FIGURE 4, it will be observed that spool shafts 47 are connected to the output portion of a conventional differential compound, broadly designated at 69, by means of gears 61, 62 and a conventional intervening gear train. The differential compound 60 is conventional and is mounted on main drive shaft 20.

The main drive shaft 20 has a direct drive connection to a top cone shaft '79 by means of a gear train 72. Shaft 70 has a top cone 71 fixed thereon which is engaged by an endless belt 72. Belt 72 also engages a bottom cone 73.

The direct drive is also transmitted through gears 74, 75 from top cone shaft 70 to a front bottom roll shaft 76 (FIGURE 4) and thereby to the conventional drafting rolls D. Top cone shaft 70 also imparts intermittent rotation to a contact shaft or tumbler shaft 77 (FIG- URES 4 and 6) having a missing-tooth gear 60, of usual form, on its upper end which, at times, meshes with a bevel gear 81 fixed on top cone shaft 70. Tumbler shaft 77 is a part of a conventional rack mechanism 82 and is instrumental in reversing the direction of traverse of bolster rail 45 and spools 41. Although the rack mechanism 82 is conventional, a slight change has been made therein and, accordingly, a description thereof is given, later in this context, in order to clearly understand the invention.

The spools 41 and bolster rail 45 are raised and lowered by means of a traverse motion which is conventional with the exception of the mechanism for delaying the action of the traversing motion at the end of each stroke there of. Accordingly, certain elements of the conventional traversing motion will now be described.

A traverse drive shaft 85 is driven by suitable gearing 86 connecting the shaft 87 (FIGURE 4) of the bottom cone 73 with the traverse drive shaft 85 (FIGURES 4 and 6). Shaft 85 is connected, by a gear train 9! (FIG- URE 4 only), to the outer portion of an inner sleeve 91 of the conventional differential compound 60. As is well known, the compound 60 performs a proportional transmission of a variable speed component derived from the bottom cone shaft 87 and a constant speed component coming directly from the main shaft 20 and, the proportional sum of the two components constitutes the speed of the gear 62 and thus constitutes the variable speed of the spools 41. Accordingly, a detailed description of the differential compound 60 is deemed unnecessary, it being sufficient to state that the speed of the ilyers 32 generally remains constant, since they are driven directly by main shaft 20, and the rotational speed of the spools 41 varies and gradually decreases as the diameter of the package of roving being wound on the spools 41 increases.

It will be observed in the lower central portions of FIGURES 4 and 5 that traverse drive shaft 85 has a bevel gear 96 fixed thereon which is alternately engaged by a pair of spaced twin bevel gears 97, 98. Gears 97. 98 are fixed on a common sleeve 100 keyed for axial movement on an auxiliary traverse drive shaft 101 (FIG- URE 4).

Auxiliary traverse drive shaft 161 has a bevel gear 102- fixed thereon which meshes with a bevel gear 103 xed on a jack shaft 104. Shaft 164 has a spur gear 105 fixed thereon which meshes with a gear 106 fixed on a lay shaft 107. Referring to FIGURES 5 and 6, it will be observed that lay shaft 167 is journaled in samson 53 and extends beneath an open-bottomed lifter gearing casing 110.

A pinion 111, which is usually termed as a lay change gear, is fixed on the corresponding end of shaft 197 and meshes with a relatively large gear 112 (FIGURES 4 and 6). Gear 112 is fixed on a shaft 113 on which a gear 114 is also secured. It will be observed in FIG- URE 6 that shaft 113 is journaled in a bracket 115 adjustable on a stationary bracket 116 carried by casing 111). Thus gears 111, 112 may be changed to vary the lay spacing, as is well known. It might be stated that the term lay spacing is used to identify the ccnter'tocenter distance between adjacent coils of roving wound on the spools 41.

Gear 114 meshes with a gear 120 fixed on a lifter control shaft 121 to which this term is applied simply because the novel delayed action clutch 122 of the present invention is mounted on this shaft, as will be later described in detail. The delayed action clutch 122 includes a pinion or 'gear 123 which transmits rotation from lifter control shaft 121 to a gear 124 which meshes with gear 123 (FIGURES 4, 6, 7 and 9) and is fixed on a conventional lifter shaft 125. Insofar as the clutch 122 is concerned, shaft 121 serves as a reciprocating driver element and gear 123 serves as a driven element.

Lifter shaft 125 has a plurality of pinions 126 fixed thereon, only one of which is shown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6. Each pinion 126 meshes with an arcuate lift rack 127 formed integral with a bobbin lifter arm or spool lifter arm 130. It will be observed in FIGURE 6 that lifter arm 131} is pivotally connected to frame 52, as at 131, and the upper surface of the front portion of lifter arm 130 bears against a roller 132 carried by bolster rail 45. Thus, as lifter arm 1311 is caused to reciprocate, by intervening connections with the traverse drive shaft 85 heretofore described, it is apparent that bolster rail 45 and spools 41 are raised and lowered with the front end of lifter arm 130.

It might be stated that some of the gearing and other elements are shown in different positions in FIGURE 4 than they are in other views so that all the elements of the drive for the roving frame may be diagrammatically illustrated in a single view.

As is usual, reciprocatory motion is imparted to auxiliary traverse drive shaft 101 and, through intervening connections, to the spools '41 by means of a conventional builder 135 (FIGURES 4 and 5). Builder 135 comprises a reversing lever 136 connected to the sleeve on which twin gears 97, 98 are mounted. Lever 136 is shifted to and fro by means of an eccentric cam 137 fixed on the lower end of contact shaft 77.

Contact shaft 77 has a builder dog 14!) fixed thereon whose vertically spaced and oppositely directed arms or abutments alternately engage a pair of interconnected, but relatively adjustable builder jaws 143, 144, both of which are raised and lowered with bolster rail 45, as is well known (FIGURES 5 and 6).

As builder jaw 143 moves below and out of engagement with the upper abutment on builder dog 140', conventional resilient means, not shown, but associated with earn 137, causes the teeth of missing-tooth gear 80, on the upper end or" contact shaft 77, to engage bevel gear 31. Since top cone shaft 70 and bevel gear 81 are continuously driven during each winding cycle, a half revolution is imparted to shaft 77 to cause the other or lower abutment on builder dog 140 to engage builder jaws 143, 144 as an area of missing-teeth on gear 811 registers with gear 81. In so doing, eccentric cam 137 moves reversing lever 136 and shifts sleeve 10% and gears 97, 98 in the corresponding direction, thus reversing the direction of movement of spool carriage or bolster rail 45. This procedure is reversed as the bottom builder jaw 144 moves above the level of the lower abutment on builder dog 140, as is conventional.

In order to facilitate adjustment of the displacement between the distal surfaces of builder jaws 143, 144 and to thereby vary the length of stroke of the traverse of the bolster rail 45 and spools 41, builder dogs 143, 144 are penetrated by oppositely threaded lower portions of a builder screw 146 which is provided with a conventional hand wheel 147 on the upper end thereof.

Heretofore, the builder screw 146 has been rotated in a stepwise manner, each time a half revolution has been imparted to builder dog 140 in the manner heretofore described. However, since the mass or package of roving on each spool 41 is to be of the same diameter throughout its length, the builder dogs 143, 144 are adjusted, by rotation of hand wheel 147, so that Spools 41 move maximum but constant strokes and so that the axially opposed upper and lower surfaces or edges of the respective presserfeet 38 move into positions closely adjacent to, but slightly spaced from, the proximal surfaces of the flanges 41b, 410 of the respective spools 41 with remain in this position throughout the winding cycle.

Of course, the rack mechanism 82 is used in the present embodiment of the invention in the usual manner; that is, the rack mechanism 82 is used for shifting belt 72 to produce the desired gradual decrease in rotational and traversing speed of the spools 41. Accordingly, it will be observed in FIGURES 4 and 5 that contact shaft 77 has a worm 159 fixed thereon which meshes with a worm gear 151 connected through a gear train 152 to a rack 153. As shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, rack 153 has a belt shifter 154 thereon through which endless belt 72 extends. Since the purpose and construction of rack 153 and belt shifter are well known, a further detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary. However, it will be noted that the usual geared connection between rack 153 and builder screw 146 is omitted, in this instance.

Travel-set delay mechanism As heretofore stated, builder jaws 143, 144 are so adjusted that the proximal surfaces of flanges 41b, 41c move into positions closely adjacent to, but spaced apart from the respective upper and lower surfaces of presserfeet 38 with respective downward and upward traversing movements of spools 41. The displacement between the flanges 41b, 41c and the respective upper and lower edges or surfaces of the presserfeet 38 at the ends of the respective downward and upward strokes should be approximately one-sixteenth inch. Accordingly, the presserfeet 38 should be as narrow, vertically, as is possible and still be provided with the eye 39.

Now, if the conventional gear was used in place of the novel delay action clutch 123 of the present invention, it is apparent that when the spools 41 would reach the end of each stroke in each direction, they would immediately commence moving in the reverse direction so that the extreme endmost coils or convolutions of roving would be laid on the barrels of the spools or the previously wound portions of the packages at a point spaced inwardly of the respective flanges. This would not only result in the building of a partially filled spool, but would also cause the endmost coils of roving in successive layers to become entangled with each other in such a manner that the roving could not be readily withdrawn from the spool without tearing the roving.

Accordingly, in order to insure that the roving is uniformly laid throughout the entire length of the barrels of the spools 41; i.e., the entire distance between the flanges 41b, 410 of each spool 41, I have discovered that it is necessary to delay the reverse movement of the spools 41 each time they reach the limit-of each stroke in each direction. This delay must accurately correspond to twice the amount of coils of roving required to bridge the gap in a single layer of roving between the eye or opening 39 of each presserfoot 38 and the adjacent flange 41b or 41c, as the case may be. In other words, if three (3) coils of roving are required to complete a given layer after the spools have come to rest at the end of a traversmg stroke, three (3) coils of roving are then required to start a succeeding layer before a reverse stroke of the spools is initiated. Therefore, I have provided the novel delayed action clutch 122 as a preferred embodiment of means to accomplish this purpose, which delayed action clutch may be interposed at any point between the auxiliary traverse drive shaft 101 and the pinion 126 of FIG- URES 4 and 6, and is shown, by way of example, as being mounted upon the traverse lift control shaft 121.

As best shown in FIGURES 7, 8 and 9, the delayed action clutch 122 is in the form of a hollow body having a hub 161 thereon which is secured and keyed to lifter control shaft 121, as by means of a set screw 162 and a key 163, respectively. The gear 123, heretofore described, is slidably mounted on shaft 121 and has a hub 164 integral therewith or suitably secured thereto. Hub 1 64 loosely fits within a cavity 165 formed in the body 160 of clutch 122. a

The body 160 of clutch 122 also has an offset cavity 166 therein which forms circularly spaced walls or abutments between which a floating key or another abutment 167 is loosely positioned. Key 167 is suitably secured to and projects radially from the hub 164 of gear 123.

It should be noted that key 167 is of substantially lesser width than the width of the cavity 166 formed in the body 166 so that, upon body 160 transmitting rotation to gear 123 in one direction, it must move a predetermined distance in the opposite direction before the opposite wall, or an adjustable element 170 carried thereby will engage the opposite side of the key 167 to then impart reverse rotation to gear 123. Adjustable element 170 is shown in the form of a set screw threaded into the body 160 and projecting into opening 166. A lock nut 170:: may be used to lock screw 170 in adjusted position.

While it is possible to eliminate adjustable element 170, there are many variables in different roving frames which would make it somewhat impractical to use the delayed action clutch 122 without providing some means L for adjusting the extent to which the body 160 of clutch 122 will move before it imparts movement to the gear 123 in the corresponding direction. As a matter of fact, a change in hank number, the type of textile fibers in the roving, the lay spacing throughout the packages of roving, the winding tension, the density of the roving on the packages and other variables must be considered in determining the extent to which the body 160 of delayed action clutch 122 may rotate in either direction independently of gear 123. In any event, the spools 41 must dwell at the end of each stroke in each direction for a sufficient length of time to permit the precise number of coils, which are required at the pre-set lay spacing, to twice fill the space between the eye 39 of each presserfoot 38 and the respective flange of the spool 41, while maintaining the flanges out of contact with the presserfoot.

The set screw 17% must be accurately adjusted in the body 160 of delayed action clutch 122 in accordance with the size, twist and fibers in the roving and the speed of the ilyers, which is normally 650 rpm, for a 12 by 6 package. This is important because, if the dwell at the end of each traverse stroke of the spools is too long, the coils or convolutions of roving will overlap each other and cannot be readily unwound when the spools are used on a spinning frame, for example. On the other hand, if the dwell is too short, the coils become so excessively spaced apart that, when one layer is being applied over another layer of roving, the coils of yarn in the one layer will fall between the previous coils, in some instances, thus binding adjacent layers of roving together in such a manner that they cannot be pulled apart without severing or tearing the roving.

The clutch body 161 may be of any desired construction or configuration provided that it is provided with means cooperating with gear 123, or its equivalent, for delaying transmission of motion from the driver element 121 to the driven element 123 upon each change in direction of rotation of driver element 121. For example, key 167 may be provided on body 168 and circularly spaced abutments may be provided on gear 123 and straddle said key.

In operation, assuming that the bolster rail 45, spools 41, builder jaws 143, 144 and builder screw 146 are in the course of an upward stroke, it follows that, in FIG- URE 6, gears 124, 126 and lifter shaft 125 are then rotating in a counterclockwise direction while gears 129, 123, lifter control shaft 121 and clutch body 160 are rotating in a clockwise direction. In FIGURE 8, the lifter control shaft 121, hub 164 of gear 123 and body 160 of clutch 1'22 are then rotating in a clockwise direction. Set screw 170 would then be engaging and imparting movement to the key 167. The latter elements continue to rotate in the directions described until the builder jaw 144 (FIGURES 4 and 5) moves above and out of engagement with the lower abutment on builder dog 140. At this moment, the bottom flanges 410 of (.a spools 41 then occupy their uppermost positions in close proximity to but spaced from the lower edges of the presscr feet 38.

As heretofore stated, at the moment that bottom builder jaw 144 passes above the level of the lower abutment on builder dog 14C, builder dog then snaps around a half revolution so that the upper abutment thereon engages jaw 143. Thus, the twin gears 97, 98 (FIGURE 4) are shifted to move one of them out of engagement with gear 96 while the other moves into ongagement with gear 96. This reverses the direction of rotation of lifter control shaft 121 through intervening connections between shaft 121 and the twin gears 97, 28.

It is thus seen that shaft 121 then rotates in a counterclockwise direction in FIGURES 6 and 8. However, since the body and hub 161 rotate in fixed relation to lifter control shaft 121, it follows that gear 123 remains stationary during initial reverse rotation of lifter control shaft 121; i.e., until the right-hand side wall of cavity 166 (FIGURE 8) engages key 167. Thereupon, hub 16% of clutch 122 transmits rotation from shaft 121 to gear 123 through the abutment 167 and hub 164 of gear 123. It is apparent that, when gears 12%, 123 rotate in a counterclockwise direction in FIG- URE 6, the gears 124, 126 rotate in a clockwise direction, thus lowering rack 127 and permitting bolster rail 45, spools 41, builder jaws 14-3, 144 and screw 146 to move downwardly therewith.

When spools 41 reach the limit of a downward stroke thereof, which is effected by movement of builder jaw 143 below the upper abutment of builder jaw 148, the lower surfaces of the upper flanges 410 are then supposed to be in close proximity to, but spaced from, the upper edges or surfaces of the respective presserfect 38. The distance from the key 167, on the hub 164 of gear 123, to set screw is then sufficient to permit the spools 41 to dwell in this position while a number of convolutions are wound on the package to fill the space between the eye 39 of each presserfoot 38 and the re spective upper flange 41b and to then form a few coils of a succeeding layer of roving, which coils are completed precisely at the moment that the last coil is alincd with the eye 39 of the respective presserfoot 38. At this precise moment, set screw 170 in hub 160 engages and imparts movement to the key or abutment 167 to, in turn, impart clockwise rotation to gear 123 (FIGURE 2), thus initiating a succeeding upward stroke of bolster rail 45 and spools 41, and to thus complete a cycle in the operation of the apparatus. It is apparent that rotation of shaft 121 is again reversed as jaw 143 passes below the respective arm on builder dog 140.

While the adjustment of screw 17% (FIGURE 8) may be determined by a trial-and-error method, it is contemplated that suitable spacing gauges or single stepped gauges may be inserted between the abutment 167 and set screw 170. and a different gauge or stepped portion may be used for each lay spacing and each hank number. Of course, different spacing blocks or gauges may also be provided for roving formed of different types of fibers.

The operation of the apparatus, thus far described is based upon the assumption that all the flyers 32, or at least the prcsserfeet thereof, occupy the same position relative to the respective spools 41. However, since most roving frames are not precision-built machines or have been in use for many years and have become worn at various points, particularly at the upper surfaces of the bolsters thereof, it is generally the rule, rather than the exception, that the level of the upper surfaces of the bolsters 4-2 and, consequently, the levels of the lower flanges 410 of the spools 41 vary considerably throughout the roving frame. Accordingly, even if the spools 41 are manufactured with precision so that the proximal surfaces of the flanges 41b, 410 of all the spools on any machine are the same distance apart and are positioned exactly the same distance from the extreme lower ends or the spools (which is required in the present instance), certain of the presserfeet 38 and respective flyers 32 could be as much as one-fouth of an inch above or below others of the presserfeet 38 and flyers 32.

Although it is not necessary that all the spools 41 occupy the same level on a particular roving frame, it is necessary that they occupy the same positions relative to the respective presserfeet 38 or flyers 32. Thus, referring to FIGURE 10, I have provided a novel means for supporting the lower end of each spindle 3i in such a manner that it may be. accurately vertically adjusted.

As hereto-fore stated, each step bearing or spindle support 50 supports both a spindle and a corresponding portion of the respective spindle sha t 30. To this end, it will be observed in FIGURE 10 that each step bearing or spindle support 5% is of generally C-shaped form, including an upper arm 1175 and a lower arm 176. Each lower arm 176 has a substantially U-shaped friction hearing 177 fixed thereon by any suitable means such as a pin 180 projecting downwardly therefrom, penetrating arm 176 and being secured therein by means of a set screw 181.

Now, in order to support the lower end of each spindle for precise vertical adjustment relative to the respective step bearing 50, it will be observed in FIGURE that upper arm 175 has an externally threaded hollow or cup bearing 182 threaded thereinto and which is preferably provided with an enlarged polygonal portion 183 on the upper end thereof which may be engaged by a wrench or other suitable implement for adjusting the bearing 182. The cup bearing 182 has a circular cavity 134 therein provided with a tapered lower end for receiving the re duced and tapered lower end portions 185, tee of the respective spindle 31.

A lock nut 1&7 may be threaded onto the cup bearing 182 between the polygonal portion 183 thereof and the upper surface of arm 175 of the respective step bearing fill so as to lock the cup bearing 182 in the desired adjusted position. It is apparent that, when hollow bearing 1&2 is adjusted upwardly, this raises the corresponding spindle 31, flyer 32 and its presserfoot 38. Conversely, when cup bearing 182 is adjusted downwardly, this lowers the respective spindle 31, flyer 32 and its presscrfoot 38.

Thus, each flyer 32 and its presserfoot 33 may be precisely vertically adjusted while a spool 41 is mounted on the respective bolster d2 so that the lower edge of each presserfoot 38 is disposed closely adjacent to but spaced from the respective lower flange 410 of the respective spool 4-1 when the spools 51 occupy their uppermost position. All the presserfeet 33 should be of substantially the width so that adjustment of the builder jaws 143,

1 may insure that the upper edges of all the presserfeet 38 will be disposed in closely spaced relationship to the respective upper flanges 4111 when the spools 41 occupy lowermost position.

t is important that presserfect or the equivalent there of be used for laying or depositing the roving on the spools 41, since the presserfeet 38 must bear against the barrels of the spools, or the preceding layers of roving thereon, throughout the winding of roving on the spools to insure uniform lay spacing throughout each package of roving and, morc importantly, to insure that the endmost coil of roving at the beginning of each layer bears against the endmost coil of the immediately preceding layer or" roving and whereby the initial endmost coil of roving in each layer cooperates with the presserfoot in guiding the next adjacent and subsequent coils formed in the same layer, until the gap between the respective spool flanges and the eye 39 of the corresponding presserfoot has been filled with roving. This prevents the coils in any layer, adjacent the flanges, from being deposited upon each other radially of the barrel.

It is thus seen that I have provided a novel method and means for winding roving onto spools, thus obviating many of the defects inherent in the usual packages of roving which have tapered ends and increasing, substantially, the amount of roving in each package produced on a particular machine. By way of example, a

package of roving produced on a given machine in ac- I cordance with the present invention included one hundred eighty-one per cent more roving than was present in a roving package of the conventional tapered end type produced on the same machine. This increase in package size was obtained not only because of elimination of the tapered ends on the package, but because elimination of the tapered ends obviated the crawling and sloughing of the roving inherent in tapered end packages so that diameter of each package could be substantially greater than that permitted on tapered end packages produced on the same roving frame. Accordingly, the distance between the legs of each flyer could also be increased. Although the density gradient was the same in both the old type package and the package produced according to the present invention, the density of the new package was considerably greater than the old type package because of the increased amount of roving therein and because endwise expansion or swelling of the package, after it is removed from the roving frame, is limited by the flanges of the spool.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. A method of building cylindrical packages of textile strand material on rotating spools provided with axially spaced flanges thereon which includes reciprocating and axially traversing strands onto the spools and between the flanges and delaying the traversing of the strand, while the spools continue rotating, at a point adjacent the proximal surface of each flange for a sufficient interval to form several coils of the strand on each spool for completing the respective layer of material and initiating a succeeding layer of material.

2. A method of building packages of textile strand material on rotating spools each provided with at least one flange thereon; said method comprising reciprocably traversing strands onto the respective spools, and delaying the traversing of the strands, while the spools continue rotating, at a point adjacent the proximal surface of each flange for a sufficient interval to form several coils of the strand on each spool for completing the respective layer of material and initiating a succeeding layer of material adjacent the respective flange.

3. A method of laying roving onto rotating flanged spools utilizing rotating flyers with presserfeet each having axially opposed edges and an eye therein through which the roving passes to the respective spool; said method comprising producing relative axial reciprocatory movement between the flyers and spools in such a manner that adjacent surfaces of the flanges and the presserfeet are disposed in close proximity to each other at the end of respectiverelative movements between the spools and the flyers in each direction, and delaying the relative axial movement between the spools and flyers for an interval of predetermined duration, with uninterrupted r0- tation of the spools, whenever either edge of each presserfoot is disposed in close proximity to a respective flange, such as to eiiect the winding of a sufiicient number of coils of roving about the spool to complete the formation of one layer of rovingon the spool from the eye of the respective presserfoot to the adjacent flange and to initiate formation of a succeeding layer from said adjacent flange to the respective eye.

4. A method of laying roving onto rotating flanged spools utilizing rotating flyers with presserfeet each having axially opposed edges and an eye therein through which roving passes to the respective spool; said method spools relative to the fiyers in such a manner that adjacent surfaces of the flanges and the presserfeet are disposed in close proximity to each other at the end of each stroke of the spools in at least one direction, and delaying axial movement of the spools for an interval of predetermined duration, with uninterrupted rotation of the spools, whenever an edge of each presserfoot is disposed in close proximity to a respective flange at the end of said each stroke in at least one direction, such as to effect the winding of a sufficient number of coils of roving about the spool to fill with roving the gap from the eye of the respective presserfoot to the adjacent flange and back to the eye.

5. A method of laying roving onto flanged spools utilizing a roving frame having flyers with presserfeet provided with eyes therein through which the roving passes to the spool, said method comprising adjusting said fiyers so that all of the presserfeet occupy the same position relative to each respective spool, imparting relative rotational and relative axially reciprccatory movement to the flyers and spools in such a manner that adjacent surfaces of the flanges and the presserfeet are disposed in close proximity to each other at the end of respective relative axial movements between the spools and the flyers in each direction, and delaying the relative axial movement between the spools and flyers for an interval of predetermined duration, with uninterrupted rotation of the spools, whenever each presserfoot is disposed in close proximity to a respective flange, such as to effect the winding of a sufiicient number of coils of roving about each spool to complete the formation of one layer of roving on the spool and start formation of a succeeding layer to fill the gap from the eye of the respective presserfoot to the adjacent flange and back to the eye.

6. In a roving frame having rotating flyers equipped with presserfeet for traversing roving onto rotating and axially reciprocating spools, said spools having axially spaced flanges thereon, the combination with means imparting axial reciprocation to the spools, of means delaying the axial movement of the spools for a predetermined interval at the end of each stroke thereof in each direction.

7. In a roving frame having rotating flyers equipped with presserfeet, a carriage for supporting roving carriers thereon and being reciprocably movable parallel to the axes of said flyers, and means forming a planar surface pcrpendicular to the axis of each carrier and adjacent each end of each carrier, the combination with means effecting reciprocation of the carriage, of means to delay the movement of the carriage for a predetermined interval at the end of each stroke thereof in each direction.

8. In a textile machine having axially, vertically, reciprocating strand carriers, strand traversing means having presserfeet thereon for directing strands to said carriers, driving means to rotate and reciprocate said carriers, and means forming a planar surface at each end of each carrier and perpendicular to the axis thereof; the combination therewith of means delaying the axial movement of said carriers at the end of each upward stroke thereof and also delaying the axial movement of said carriers at the end of each downward stroke thereof.

9. The combination with a textile machine having strand traversing means equipped with presserfeet thereon, a spool supporting carriage, driving means to rotate spools on the carriage and to effect relative axial reciprocation between said traversing means and said carriage, and said spools having flanges adjacent opposite ends thereof, of means to delay the relative reciprocation between said traversing means and said carriage at the end of each relative movement thereof.

10. In a roving frame having rotating fiyers equipped with presserfeet for traversing roving onto relatively rotating spools provided with flanges thereon, a carriage for said spools, and a reciprocating driven shaft; the

combination of means transmitting reciprocatory movement from said reciprocating shaft to said carriage, and means operatively associated with said reciprocating driven shaft for delaying the transmission of motion from said reciprocating shaft to said carriage for a predetermined interval at the end of each movement of said shaft in each direction.

11. A structure according to claim l0 in which said last-mentioned means comprises a delayed action clutch interposed between said reciprocating driven shaft and said carriage.

12. A structure according to claim l0 wherein said means operatively associated with the reciprocating driven shaft comprises a first element reciprocahlc in fixed relation to said reciprocating driven shaft, a second rotatable element operatively connected to said carriage and movable in direct relation to the reciprocatory movement thereof, spaced first and second abutments on one of said elements, and means on the other of said elements alternately engageable with said first and second abutments with respective movements of said first element in opposite directions whereby said reciprocating driven shaft and said first element move a predetermined amount in the opposite direction upon completion of each movement thereof in either direction before an abutment on said one of the elements is engaged with said alternately engage-able means on the other of said elements and the first element imparts rotation to the second element and thus imparts movement to said carriage.

13. A structure according to claim 12 including means for varying the displacement between the abutments on said one of the elements to thereby vary the length of the interval during which the motion of said carriage is delayed at the end of each stroke during reciprocation thereof.

14. A structure according to claim 10 wherein said means operatively associated with the reciprocating driven shaft comprises a first element fixed on said shaft, a second element journaled on said shaft and being operatively connected to said carriage, spaced first and second abutments on said first element, and a key on said second element disposed between and being alternately engageabie by said first and second abutments with respective movements of said first element in opposite directions whereby said reciprocating driven shaft and said first element move a predetermined amount in a reverse direction upon completion of each movement thereof in either direction before an abutment on the first element completes its movement away from said key and the other abutment engages the key and imparts rotation to the second element and, thus, to said carriage.

15. A structure according to claim 14 including means for varying the displacement between the abutments on said first element to thereby vary the interval during which the motion of said carriage and spools is delayed at the end of each stroke during reciprocation thereof.

16. In a roving frame having rotating spools provided with spaced flanges thereon, relatively rotating flyers provided with presserfeet for directing roving to the spools, a carriage for said spools, and a builder mechanism for imparting reciprocatory movement to said carriage parallel to the axes of said spools in strokes of predetermined length; the combination of means interposed between the builder mechanism and the carriage for delaying the transmission of motion from the builder mechanism to the carriage for an interval of predetermined duration at the end of each of said strokes.

17. A structure according to claim 16 wherein said means interposed between the builder mechanism and the carriage comprises a shaft operatively connected to said builder mechanism for reciprocation thereby, a clutch body fixed on said shaft, a gear journaled on said shaft, means operatively connecting said gear to said carriage, a key carried by said gear, a pair of spaced abutments carried by said clutch body and straddling saidkey in circular relationship thereto, and said abutments being spaced a substantially greater distance apart from each other than the width of said 'key whereby, with movement of said shaft in one direction, one abutment engages said key and imparts rotation to said gear and, upon commencement of reverse movement of said shaft, said one abutment moves away from the said key and the other abutment moves into engagement with said key to impart rotation to said gear in the reverse direction.

18. In a roving frame having rotating flyers equipped with presserfeet for traversing roving onto relatively rotating and axially reciprocating spools, a carriage for said spools, said spools having axially spaced flanges thereon; the combination with means effecting reciprocation to the carriage parallel to the axes of the spools of; means delaying the movement of the carriage for a predetermined interval at the end of each stroke thereof in each direction, and means to vary the position of each flyer relative to and axially of the spools so that the presserfeet of all the flyers occupy/the same position with respect to respective spools during intervals in which said delaying means is effective.

19. In a roving frame having a vertically movable carriage, means on said carriage for rotatably supporting flanged spools on substantially vertical axes thereon, a spindle extending axially and loosely through each spool, a fiyer mounted on each spindle and having a presserfoot thereon provided with an eye for guiding a strand of roving to the respective spool, means for rotating said spools relative to the flyers, and means for imparting vertical reciprocatory motion to said carriage and the spools supported thereby in strokes ofpredetermined length; the combination of means interposed in said lastnamed means for delaying motion of said carriage for an interval of predetermined duration at the end of each stroke of said carriage in either direction, and means for adjusting each spindle to position each presserfoot in close proximity to, but out of contact with, each flange or each respective spool at the end of each stroke of said carriage.

20. A structure according to claim 19 wherein said means for adjusting each spindle includes a bearing bracket fixedly secured to said roving frame, a substan tially cup-shaped bearing threaded into each bracket, and

the lower end of each spindle being supported by and journaled in the respective cup-shaped bearing.

21. In a roving frame having rotating flyers equipped with presserfeet for traversing roving onto rotating spools each having a flange on at least one end thereof; the combination with means for effecting relative axial reciprocation between the spools and the flyers, of means to delay relative axial movement between the spools and the flyers for a predetermined interval at the end of each such relative movement in which the presserfeet are dis posed in close proximity to the respective flanges.

22. The combination with a textile machine having strand traversing means equipped with presserfeet, a spool supporting carriage, driving means to rotate spools on the carriage and to efiect relative axial reciprocation between the carriage and the strand traversing means, and

means forming a planar surface perpendicular to the.

axes of said spools at at least one end of said spools, of means to delay the relative reciprocation between said traversing means and said carriage at that end of each relative movement thereof in which each presserfoot is adjacent said planar surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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